Source: CCTV.com

03-04-2009 09:53

For over 2000 years, Dragon Boat racing has been traditionally practiced by male teams only.

Well, things have changed. Women are now at the forefront of this team sport.

Today we'll talk to a female paddler at the National Team Selection trials.

Huang Huanhuan, 18 years old, and just one of the 20 girls who paddle for the Zhaoqing city Dragon Boat team. She's new to the sport of Dragon Boat racing, but has plenty of experience in canoeing.

Huang Huanhuan, Zhaoqing City Dragon Boat Team, said, "Every year, we girls from the canoeing and kayaking teams will join forces to participate in the annual dragon boat competition held in Zhaoqing City."

Huanhuan and her teammates started training for the National Team Selection Trials at the end of last year. That certainly paid off, because they came in first place in the 1000 meter final here. Thus, all 22 girls were able to advance to the individual testing portion.

"My coach said the male paddlers won't have to gone through, but us girls have made it."(With only 5 seconds of footage, can you make this shorter?)

Competitive dragon boat racing has only been open to women for the past 25 years. The women here know that if they want to win, they'll have to endure more than their male counterparts. They need to be twice as strong.

Huanhuan said, "I felt so bad during that period of transition, because my movements were wrong and I couldn't learn the right movements for dragon boat racing. Our coach stopped helping others and only taught me, but I still didn't get it. At times I felt like my coach wanted to give up on me."

Despite the difficult learning curve, Huanhuan eventually got the movements down right. She might have been the slowest learner on her team, but she is easily the strongest. During the individual testing, Huanhuan amazed every one: She's the only female here able to bench 70 kilograms -- that's about the same weight as one of her teammates.

Like all the competitors here, Huanhuan treasures the opportunity she has to try out for the National team. But don't let her strength and love for a traditionally male dominated sport fool you. She keeps up with all the latest hairstyles, and complains that she hasn't had the time to get hers cut. She also misses home.

"Each spring festival, I would spend it with my coach and their family. I've been here for two years and I haven't once gone back home. I miss my family so much.I spent past three spring festivals with my coach family." Huang told us.

 

Editor:Zheng Limin